ground wave

ground wave

[′grau̇nd ‚wāv]

(communications)

A radio wave that is propagated along the earth and is ordinarily affected by the presence of the ground and the troposphere; includes all components of a radio wave over the earth except ionospheric and tropospheric waves. Also known as surface wave.

(ordnance)

One of the waves formed in the ground by an explosion.

ground wave

The component of a transmitted electromagnetic wave that travels from ground transmitter to ground receiver along the surface of the earth. These waves may follow the earth's curvature caused by diffraction and bending and can cover very large areas. The range of the ground wave varies with the frequency and, at a specific frequency, with the square root of its power. Also called a surface wave.

Even though scientists can distinguish between the ground waves caused by earthquakes and those from explosions, it's often difficult if not impossible to tell a nuclear blast from a chemical explosion, such as one caused by TNT.

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